Bar Nico

In the Acquabella neighbourhood, Bar Nico is a corner that reveals a different side of Milan: intimate, refined, welcoming. On via Cesare Saldini, among the residential streets connecting Porta Vittoria to Città Studi, this wine bar has already carved out a special place among lovers of natural wine and venues with soul.

The space has a long, layered history: first a tyre repair shop, then a pasta workshop, and today a contemporary bar that has not forgotten its roots. The ‘Pastificio Bolognese‘ sign, still in place, serves as living memory, in dialogue with a minimalist design by Marco Mannacio Soderini of SagomaStudio. Concrete, wood and steel blend with the original terrazzo floor, while soft lighting and panels that turn red in the evening make the atmosphere both vibrant and intimate.

Behind Bar Nico are Chiara Pino and Riccardo Ganelli, two former fashion professionals who decided to change course and focus on natural wine. Their vision is clear: to create an unpretentious space without bookings or table time limits. Here you can stay as long as you like, because the idea is to sip wine unhurriedly, alongside conversation and small bites.

The wine list features over 300 labels, with a focus on Italian and French natural and biodynamic producers. Bottles from small winemakers and regional stories unfold glass by glass: from bold reds to mineral whites, alongside less conventional fizz and a few international selections.

To accompany each glass, the kitchen keeps things simple: ‘mangiarini‘ designed to enhance the wine, such as selected cheeses and cured meats, crostini, preserves, hummus, savoury tarts and marinated olives. And as evening falls, Bar Nico glows red, evoking an old French bistro neon sign with a contemporary edge.